Ten years after Emergence Day, as the Locust Horde advances on humanity&#8217;s last defended area&#8212;Ephyra&#8212;in a bloody war that has seen billions die, Marcus Fenix does the unthinkable: he defies orders and abandons his post during a critical battle in a bid to rescue his father, weapons scientist Adam FeniMARCUS FENIX. WAR HERO. LOYAL SON. TRAITOR.

Ten years after Emergence Day, as the Locust Horde advances on humanity&#8217;s last defended area&#8212;Ephyra&#8212;in a bloody war that has seen billions die, Marcus Fenix does the unthinkable: he defies orders and abandons his post during a critical battle in a bid to rescue his father, weapons scientist Adam Fenix. But Adam is buried in the rubble during a ferocious assault on the Fenix mansion, and Ephyra falls to the enemy. Marcus, grieving for a father everyone believes is dead, is court-martialed for dereliction of duty and sentenced to forty years in the Coalition of Ordered Government&#8217;s brutal maximum security prison, known simply as the Slab.

But Adam is very much alive, snatched from the destruction by the elite Onyx Guard on Chairman Richard Prescott&#8217;s orders. He&#8217;s now a long way from home and in a prison of his own&#8212;a COG doomsday bunker on the tropical island of Azura, a place hidden from the rest of Sera since the Pendulum Wars. His own guilty secret has been exposed: Adam knew the Locust existed deep below the surface of Sera long before Emergence Day, and were being driven from their tunnels by a lethal parasite known as the Lambent. Now he has to find a way to destroy the Lambent while the dwindling COG forces fight to hold back a growing Locust army that&#8217;s threatening to overrun the city.

As Adam struggles to find redemption in his comfortable island jail, Marcus seeks his own atonement in the squalid, closed world within the Slab&#8217;s granite walls. While Dom Santiago and Anya Stroud fight to get him released, ready to make any sacrifice to free him, Marcus gradually finds unexpected kinship among Sera&#8217;s most dangerous criminals&#8212;and a way to carry on his personal war against the Locust.

&nbsp;&#8220;Adam, you knew this day would come.&#8221;

It was a familiar voice: silky, imperial, polished, and utterly human.

&#8220;And how right you were. We do need you. And we shall take you. I hope you&#8217;re not planning anything foolish. You have responsibilities, Adam.&#8221;

It would be a living death. The Locust Queen would never release him, even if he developed a countermeasure. But he didn&#8217;t deserve any better.

&#8220;I also have my service pistol.&#8221;

&#8220;And I can take your son at any time.&#8221;

He had the measure of her, then, and she had his. &#8220;You leave Marcus out of this. It&#8217;s a condition.&#8221; He opened the desk drawer and took out the handgun, a 9mm officer&#8217;s weapon. It made a distinctive clunk on the wooden desktop as he slammed it down. &#8220;If anything happens to him, I don&#8217;t care what happens to the rest of Sera.&#8221;...more

Community Reviews

I've enjoyed all of Karen Traviss's Gears of War books so far, and The Slab is no exception. Covering the topic of Marcus's court-martial and incarceration, I knew it was going to be an intense story. I wasn't disappointed. As always, the characters she presented were multi-dimensional and believable, and I spent a great deal of the book breathlessly turning pages.

The sections of the book dealing with the Slab itself were quite believable to my mind, including how she chose to write her guards.I've enjoyed all of Karen Traviss's Gears of War books so far, and The Slab is no exception. Covering the topic of Marcus's court-martial and incarceration, I knew it was going to be an intense story. I wasn't disappointed. As always, the characters she presented were multi-dimensional and believable, and I spent a great deal of the book breathlessly turning pages.

The sections of the book dealing with the Slab itself were quite believable to my mind, including how she chose to write her guards. How Marcus's incarceration affected his friends and colleagues was also spot on, as far as I'm concerned.

I only found myself thrown out of the narrative once or twice near the very end, where the book's timeline overlapped a little with the beginning of the original Gears of War game. I went into this book knowing that Ms. Traviss doesn't play the game, has been working with a world bible and the cinematic sequences, so I knew they weren't going to be precise to the game. But I've played the game several times, and the few places where her narrative didn't quite match up with the gameplay caused me a tiny bit of mental dissonance. It did nothing to lessen my enjoyment of the book, however.

If you're a Gears of War fan, or you just like gritty militaria that doesn't hold your hand, I highly recommend this book. Even someone who's never played the games will definitely enjoy it....more

I believe that this is the first Gears book that is set entirely in the past without any jump into current events. So as a full prequel, it does a beautiful job of linking into the beginning of Gears of War (Xbox 360). The story perfectly fills in the little details between the events of the first game and what we’ve been reading in her past Gears’ novels that were otherwise off or did not appear to line up. I couldn’t help but smile whenever these things came up. As usual, Karen Travis excels aI believe that this is the first Gears book that is set entirely in the past without any jump into current events. So as a full prequel, it does a beautiful job of linking into the beginning of Gears of War (Xbox 360). The story perfectly fills in the little details between the events of the first game and what we’ve been reading in her past Gears’ novels that were otherwise off or did not appear to line up. I couldn’t help but smile whenever these things came up. As usual, Karen Travis excels at conveying the friendship, camaraderie, and love that her characters have for one another and the emotions that result from a time of war. The parts of the book dealing with The Slab itself were reminiscent of the types of distorted inmate-family dynamics portrayed in films and television shows like Prison Break. Very entertaining stuff! My one gripe with the book is that I could have done without the last chapter, as it’s essentially a rehashing of the intro act of the game. The previous chapter had ended so perfectly with Hoffman and Anya. When the folks at Epic Games designed Gears, there’s no way they could have possibly imagined the kind of fleshed out story and quality writing that Travis could give to a video game. The series has truly been a great read. I wish they would let her write one about the fallout of Gears 3....more

When Gears of War first starts Marcus Fenix is in a prison cell, and we don't really know too much about why he's there. This book explains everything leading up to the start of the first game, why he's there, what he's been doing, and everything else that's been going on around him. While it is a prequel, the book also does make mention of some things that aren't revealed until Gears of War 3, so you should probably have played that before reading this.All of the Gears of War novels have been rWhen Gears of War first starts Marcus Fenix is in a prison cell, and we don't really know too much about why he's there. This book explains everything leading up to the start of the first game, why he's there, what he's been doing, and everything else that's been going on around him. While it is a prequel, the book also does make mention of some things that aren't revealed until Gears of War 3, so you should probably have played that before reading this.All of the Gears of War novels have been really really good. They do a great job of developing characters, filling in backstory and history, and linking all the games together. This one ends right as the first game starts. I really can't recommend them enough for fans....more

Karen Traviss- Few years ago I had an unexpected trip to Europe with a 8 hr flight and I did not have any books to take with me and very little time to search for something I would like. I went to the library and quickly picked up a book, because I liked the cover. I did not even check the author. I put it into my carry on luggage and went to the airport. On the airplane I took out the book- it was "The Slab" by Karen Traviss. On one hand I was lucky because I had very good Sci-Fi book ( I am biKaren Traviss- Few years ago I had an unexpected trip to Europe with a 8 hr flight and I did not have any books to take with me and very little time to search for something I would like. I went to the library and quickly picked up a book, because I liked the cover. I did not even check the author. I put it into my carry on luggage and went to the airport. On the airplane I took out the book- it was "The Slab" by Karen Traviss. On one hand I was lucky because I had very good Sci-Fi book ( I am big fun on futuristic novels but I am also very critical about them - there is a lot of crap out there in the sci-fi categories), but unlucky on the other hand because "The Slab" was the last part of the series Gears of War. At this point I had no choice, so I dug into the book. It was really great. This is a story set in the future where humans are losing a war against Locus Horde ( a coalition of different species humanoid and bestial, big and small but always deadly). The main character Markus Fenix, supper soldier was put in prison for disobeying an order. Markus was a war hero and did not belong in a locked up among criminals , especially when the war was almost lost and the human troops needed him. While Markus was adjusting to a life in prison, his friends desperately tried to find a way to get him released and his father was trying to keep him alive secretly working for the government.The author did a great job creating the single minded, heroic solder, with enough of "softness" beneath his amour that Markus was a tough but likable character. He was strong , dedicated soldier, never blamed anyone for his mistake that landed him in prison ( if you call this a mistake -he was trying to save his father), his friend were willing to risk their lives for him, he was just the ideal soldier that I felt sympathy and admiration for. This book made an impression on me. It is not the typical "comic" superhero book, where the hero does impossible tasks ( e.g. Captain America) or the bullet proof hero where he kills 100 soldiers while dodging thousands of bullets ( e.g. Rambo). This is, in my opinion as realistic Sci-Fi books can be, with characters who could exist in the 21st century. The story lines are easy to follow, there are no long boring descriptions and the action is non-stop. If you like futuristic books try "The Slab" , but do not make the same mistake I did. Read from the first book of the Gear of War ,"Aspho Fields.Here is a link to other books I read and reviewed: http://adamvb67.wordpress.com/

This book wears its video game origin like an anchor around the neck. It's clear that the author has a strong sense of who her cast should be. While some of her characters like Anaya and Dom read exactly like their video game counterparts, others like Marcus and Hoffman feel like completely different characters. It's especially evident during the denounment, when Dom frees Marcus from the prison and the novel covers the opening scene from the first Gears of War. The dialogue is taken directly frThis book wears its video game origin like an anchor around the neck. It's clear that the author has a strong sense of who her cast should be. While some of her characters like Anaya and Dom read exactly like their video game counterparts, others like Marcus and Hoffman feel like completely different characters. It's especially evident during the denounment, when Dom frees Marcus from the prison and the novel covers the opening scene from the first Gears of War. The dialogue is taken directly from the game, but it doesn't feel at all like the characters from the rest of the novel. It feels bolted on.

It's still a good novel. It's a solid entry and a fun read if you're a Gears fan. But man, this is one of the books that shows how sometimes franchise fiction can expand the stories of your favorite characters and sometimes its efforts to grow the character show the shortcomings of the parent franchise. This is definitely the latter....more

It took me awhile to decide how to rate this book. On the one hand, I'm a fan of Karen Traviss, and when it comes to military-style action there are few better writers (funny how the best military SF seems to be tie-in novels...). This book is no exception, and if it had been nothing but action and dudes being badass I would've rated it higher. Those sections were awesome.

But there's a ton of navel-gazing in between the action. The book is mostly about Marcus Fenix and whatCall this 3.5 stars.

It took me awhile to decide how to rate this book. On the one hand, I'm a fan of Karen Traviss, and when it comes to military-style action there are few better writers (funny how the best military SF seems to be tie-in novels...). This book is no exception, and if it had been nothing but action and dudes being badass I would've rated it higher. Those sections were awesome.

But there's a ton of navel-gazing in between the action. The book is mostly about Marcus Fenix and what he did to get sent to the prison where he begins the Gears of War games, as well as his time there. But, Marcus isn't a viewpoint character, so we never really get what's going on in his head. Instead, we get tons of people thinking and speculating about what's going on in there, instead of actually doing stuff. A few characters (Hoffman in particular) do almost nothing but mentally flagellate themselves for putting Marcus in prison and making him suffer.

Still, most of the characters were well drawn, and the setting is properly dark and tragic. The prison was a lot more interesting than it could've been, since it was pretty much a colony of terrible people that was isolated but not really controlled by the prison warders. The interplay between the guards, the other prisoners, and Marcus were some of the book's best moments. And, of course, when the bullets inevitably started flying, it was un-put-downable.

I'd recommend this to anyone who liked the Gears games or likes military SF in general. Maybe buy the paper copy so you can skip past the navel-gazing, but definitely check it out....more

i believe this is the fifth novel in the Gears of War book series and it was a decent read. for hardcore fans of the franchise, it offers a ton more insight into the relationships between Marcus and his father, Adam, as well as with Dom, Anya and Hoffman. the other concurrent storyline deals with Adam Fenix's relocation to Azura, the secret island facility housing Sera's best and brightest scientists and analysts.the best parts of the book were about Chairman Prescott outsmarting everyone he comi believe this is the fifth novel in the Gears of War book series and it was a decent read. for hardcore fans of the franchise, it offers a ton more insight into the relationships between Marcus and his father, Adam, as well as with Dom, Anya and Hoffman. the other concurrent storyline deals with Adam Fenix's relocation to Azura, the secret island facility housing Sera's best and brightest scientists and analysts.the best parts of the book were about Chairman Prescott outsmarting everyone he comes in contact with AND when Dom/Anya/Hoffman would think about Marcus in The Slab. i thought the parts concerning Marcus in The Slab and Adam in Azura, respectfully, were a bit drab + dry--it's a shame really--everyone who has played the games knows what's going to happen in both stories, so it's natural that reading those parts aren't nearly as suspenseful as it's made out to be.still, it's a delight once again to read Karen Traviss' work on the series as she simply understands the characters and how they interact with each other. my favorite book in the series is still the first, Aspho Fields (1) and i highly recommend it if you haven't read it already. the rest in order would be Anvil Gate (3), Coalition's End (4), The Slab (5) and then Jacinto's Remnant (2)....more

I've finally hit my limit with Karen Traviss's oeuvre of books based on video game franchises with "The Slab". While previous Gears novels by Traviss provided some well-paced, much needed backstory (or even inter-story), "The Slab" serves as a collection of all of Traviss's worst traits as a writer wrapped inside the answer to a question that didn't need answering. Nothing interesting happens until the end? Check. Lots of soul-searching and hand wringing? Check. Awesome super protagonists with cI've finally hit my limit with Karen Traviss's oeuvre of books based on video game franchises with "The Slab". While previous Gears novels by Traviss provided some well-paced, much needed backstory (or even inter-story), "The Slab" serves as a collection of all of Traviss's worst traits as a writer wrapped inside the answer to a question that didn't need answering. Nothing interesting happens until the end? Check. Lots of soul-searching and hand wringing? Check. Awesome super protagonists with character slopes rather than arcs? Check.

I really liked Ms. Traviss's first few Gears books and am really enjoying her current "Batman: Arkham Unhinged" arc. But since her last Halo book, I've been wary of her tendency to spin plot wheels for a seeming eternity before ramping up to an exciting climax in the last 50 pages. And "The Slab" follows this pattern as if this book were written with an editor standing behind the author's shoulder making frantic stretching motions in the hopes to prompt enough material for two or three more books.

Other than the general event-less story, readers get a lot of dull detail as to the solemnity of Marcus Fenix, the lovesickness of Anya Stroud, the gravitas of Dom Santiago, and all the boring melodrama that people play the Gears franchise for. Wait, that's not why you play that hit military shooter? Is it for hackneyed prison stories? No? More details of what Marcus's dad was up to on a secret science island? Yes, he was just doing science; would you like 30 more pages describing that science? No?

Hmmm...so the book is boring, dreadfully repetitive, and has little of what Gears fans want to read about (i.e., fights, world-building). Guess this one's for the sad completionists only. Curse you, personal obsessive tendencies!...more

This book is a prequal. It tells the story of how Marcus was/why was court-martialed. It has Traviss' typical character development skills at work. Overall I enjoyed it but it contained slightly less action than normal. The author was also contrained by the timeframe she had to place the story in so the characters could only progress and mature so much because this story had to fit inbetween two others. The prison life part was ok, it seemed to be lacking something. Maybe because most of the booThis book is a prequal. It tells the story of how Marcus was/why was court-martialed. It has Traviss' typical character development skills at work. Overall I enjoyed it but it contained slightly less action than normal. The author was also contrained by the timeframe she had to place the story in so the characters could only progress and mature so much because this story had to fit inbetween two others. The prison life part was ok, it seemed to be lacking something. Maybe because most of the book was people observing the main character and their thoughts and reactions to him and the narrative was never from his inner perspective. This fragmented the prison part as we had perspective from two main people that were not fully developed tell the prison portion of the story.

I really enjoyed this book because as a fan its nice to get more back story on our favorite characters and especially those involved with Marcus (and of course about Marcus himself.) For those that had many questions about Marcus in GOW 3, (how he wound up in prison and why he was there and what his story was) this book will help fill in those blanks for players. (although that question is mentioned in the game) players will know bits and pieces but if players/readers want more in depth back stoI really enjoyed this book because as a fan its nice to get more back story on our favorite characters and especially those involved with Marcus (and of course about Marcus himself.) For those that had many questions about Marcus in GOW 3, (how he wound up in prison and why he was there and what his story was) this book will help fill in those blanks for players. (although that question is mentioned in the game) players will know bits and pieces but if players/readers want more in depth back story this is the book for you. For people that are strictly book fans, GOW Slab is fantastic.

I'm usually iffy about Karen Traviss as an author because some of her books aren't so well done but some totally rock, so I was glad to see her do a better job from the last book I read. ...more

very good book, a bit slow at first not your typical gears of war speed and action. more drama following Fenix is time in prison that take place before the first game. as well following Adam (fenix's dad) is research on the locust and finally Dom try take Fenix out of the prison. so 3/4 of the book is slow pace but really dramatic between character. but you do have some part some GOW action in it. If you want know story before the 1 st game you will like this book. But if you dont care and justvery good book, a bit slow at first not your typical gears of war speed and action. more drama following Fenix is time in prison that take place before the first game. as well following Adam (fenix's dad) is research on the locust and finally Dom try take Fenix out of the prison. so 3/4 of the book is slow pace but really dramatic between character. but you do have some part some GOW action in it. If you want know story before the 1 st game you will like this book. But if you dont care and just want read some GOW actions.. you might be not big fan of it. It is by far the slowest action story in the GOW universe (books and games combined)

The Slab wasn't the easiest book to finish, the pacing on this book was so slow and for a book based off the Gears of War game... there is very little Locust killing. Without giving away to many details, this book is set in the time frame just before the 1st game of the series and ends more or less with the start of the game. So in short, the book ends just before the real fun/action gets started.

If you enjoy this series and Karen Traviss' writing, then you will thoroughly enjoy this read. My only complaint is that it was the last book in the series! i would love to read more about this world, including the stories that took place in the games, that are not written about. Also having this in the beginning of the series would have made much more sense. Traviss' character exploration is great and even the side characters are engaging. Definitley recommend this book!

This book has some hefty chapters, I can never stop reading a book before the end of a chapter and this book contains probably the longest chapters I have ever read, I mean as a constant throughout. It also risks overlapping with the game as apposed to stopping just before it, but I think it doppled well and gives you a real insight to how they really start. As apposed to the games, oh your out of prison now you kill everything kind of feel.

Traviss has yet to disappoint! This book was as fantastic as her others. She understands and portrays her characters in such ways that they simply come alive. She somehow delves into the minimal character development of the game and explodes with personality. She makes you care about their struggles. A must read for Gears fans!!

Karen Travis takes us back in time to show just what exactly happend and why Markus Fenix was sent to jail all those years ago,Realy liked reading all these books in the Gears of War series. Strongly recommend it for any fan out there.

#1 New York Times best-selling novelist, scriptwriter and comics author Karen Traviss has received critical acclaim for her award-nominated Wess'har series, and her work on Halo, Gears of War, Batman, G.I. Joe, and other major franchises has earned her a broad range of fans. She's best known for military science fiction, but GOING GREY, the first of her new techno-thriller series, is set in the re#1 New York Times best-selling novelist, scriptwriter and comics author Karen Traviss has received critical acclaim for her award-nominated Wess'har series, and her work on Halo, Gears of War, Batman, G.I. Joe, and other major franchises has earned her a broad range of fans. She's best known for military science fiction, but GOING GREY, the first of her new techno-thriller series, is set in the real world of today. A former defence correspondent and TV and newspaper journalist, she lives in Wiltshire, England. She's currently working on BLACK RUN, the sequel to GOING GREY....more